No, the government shouldn't do what people want by popular vote, and that's not how it was originally set up. We live in a democratic republic, so leaders are elected by popular vote to do what they think is best. Because these leaders are subject to the voters through re-election or not, they usually do take into account the wishes of the electorate (at least publicly). But, the idea is to elect people who we, the electorate, believe to be the most qualified in their expertise for whatever office they're filling. Just as we don't subject your health care decisions to a vote, instead letting your physician and you make those decisions, we don't submit every decision made about the functioning of the country to a popular vote. We're supposed to be electing qualified experts to do the jobs that we entrust to them, but instead people are getting elected based on being attractive, or witty, or "tough"; rarely if ever because they are intelligent, thoughtful, tactful, diplomatic, or even have a record of successful leadership.

Didn't the right wingers in DC just repeal a ban of ATVs (snowmobiles) in one of the popular areas? Can't remember which. RMNP or someplace in Minnesota?

Yellowstone, Wyo. (Ski Press)-A U.S. District Judge said Wednesday the National Park Service must re-invoke a Clinton era Yellowstone snowmobile ban.

Judge Emmet Sullivan told the Park Service and the Bush Administration that they had not shown clear cause for disregarding the snowmobile ban. The original ruling had banned snowmobiles in favor of snow coaches, but limited snowmobile use was allowed in favor of new more efficient noise and pollution-reducing engines.

And although the ruling is expected to be challenged by pro-snowmobile interests, the agreement will still allow nearly 500 individual snowmobilers per day in Yellowstone and 50 per day in Grand Teton – less than half the ‘bilers allowed in the Bush plan.